Todd P. Garrett graduated from the Citadel in 1998 and earned his Master’s in Public Policy from Harvard University in 2001. After joining the US Marine Corps, Todd served two combat tours in Iraq as a platoon commander. Upon returning home, he continued his service as a company commander in the Marine Corps Reserves, completing his service with the rank of Major. In 2006, Todd began his business career as an industrial real estate broker, and he is a principal with Avison Young, a commercial real estate firm. As a volunteer for 20 years, Todd has led Medical Missions, a non-profit, that builds schools, medical clinics, and churches in Peru, Mexico, Zambia, and Malawi.
In 2012, Todd was elected to the Charleston County School District (CCSD) Board where he served as Chairman of the Audit & Finance Committee for eight years and Chair of the Committee of the Whole for two years. He led the planning and management of a $1 billion annual budget. Under his leadership, the district turned a deficit into a $141 million surplus. He led efforts to pass a referendum to put an income stream into place to build and maintain schools without adding debt, putting the district on a trajectory to completely pay off all debt within 10 years. He led and passed major policy changes to integrate schools, close underperforming programs, and expand access to early childhood education. His efforts led to increased access for Charleston’s poorest students to Buist and Academic Magnet High School, without reducing standards. As an advocate for recruiting top talent to CCSD, he led efforts to increase pay for teachers and principals to the highest levels in the state.
Todd and his wife Jessica live in Hampton Park. They have four children in public school, and they are active members of First Scots Presbyterian Church.